The Omni-(s) and Us

Seventh grade was a big year for me - puberty, teen drama, and my first CD player, complete with my first CD, Boys 2 Men II. (Cue nostalgia.) Life was dramatic, but good. That year at church was a memorable one, because we had the most amazing Bible class teachers we’d ever had: a newlywed couple in their early twenties.

They were young and cool and attractive—the “quintessential goal.” They were relatable. They understood us. They often separated us into boys and girls so we felt safe to ask questions about anything and everything (a new experience at that age.) They had interesting teaching methods: what grown-up brings a WHOLE COW TONGUE to discuss James 3 and the power of our words? For better or worse, that object lesson stuck. Basically, this bunch of twelve and thirteen-year-olds were over the moon.

The cow tongue lesson was an interesting one, but a different lesson has stuck out even more over the years. In a lesson about attributes of God, they taught us that God is OMNISCIENT.

I’d never heard that word before. What does that mean?

It means God is all-knowing. So He doesn’t learn. Ever. Because He already knows. Everything.

We learned other omni- words that day too:

God is OMNIPRESENT. He is everywhere, in all of time, always.

God is OMNIPOTENT. He is all-powerful.

To be honest, I don’t remember much about the lesson, but those big words made an impact. I wrote them down in my little pink Bible, and I saw it every time I opened that book for years.

Years later, we added a question about the attributes of God on a weekly basis at Women’s Bible Study, and I started paying more attention. Since then, the omni-(s) have come into play often over the years in my effort to know the Lord God and understand Him through the study of His Word.

I find them especially helpful in discussions about identity. The topic has come up often lately, with youths and adults alike. The more I’ve thought about it, the more I recognize the freedom it brings, and also the joy. I thought it might be helpful to share it here:

God holds all knowledge. He is OMNISCIENT. So He knows every day of your life. He knows your best day, and your worst. He knows every thought you will ever have. And He was SO EXCITED to create you. He knew what He was going to do, all the way back in Genesis 1 (John 8), and when the time came to make you, He did it on purpose. Every bit of it. He made you in His Image, and He called His Creation GOOD. He celebrated it. He still does! He was so glad to save you because He DELIGHTS in you! (Psalm 18) God didn’t see the leftovers and decide to make you. He made you, perfectly you, on purpose, and with joy! You exist for His GLORY. You have GIFTS He gave you and PURPOSE, for His GLORY, and for the building up of His Church. You are the way He wanted to receive the glory that could only come from your life! (Ephesians 2 & 4, 1 Corinthians 12, Psalm 139)

We all need those reminders sometimes. God knew you, fully, before He ever created you. He made you. He saved you. He wants to live in eternity with you, and all of it glorifies Him. The best place we can look for an accurate read on our identity is to God, not only because He is our Creator, but because He alone is UNCHANGING. God’s not going to change His mind.

What is the chief end of man? To glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

When we think of ourselves, of our purpose, we start there because it’s true, and it’s not going to change.

We don’t always understand how our life circumstances bring glory to God. It’s not always fun and satisfying to live on a planet that is broken by the effects of sin. But God knows. And because He is OMNISCIENT, we can trust that He knows what is best. Because He is OMNIPOTENT, we know there is nothing He cannot do, and nothing He allows that is not best. Because He is OMNIPRESENT, we know that He is with us in all times, in all things, and He always will be.

I hope you will think on these things. I hope you will rejoice that God made you, here in this time, with joy, for His glory, and that you worship Him for His goodness in it. I hope you will choose His way because He knows what is best. Never doubt that the OMNISCIENT, OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT hand of God is with you and has placed you right where you are, with everything you need to glorify Him. And when we can’t do it perfectly, He made a way, through Jesus. Praise Him!

Questions for Reflection:

1. When is it hard to remember who you are in Christ? How can you arm yourself to fight back against that lie the next time it comes?

2. How have you seen God working in your life for His glory lately?

3. What makes you feel loved by God?

Updates:

• Come see me at Tales on Tap on March 22, from 12-4pm. If you can’t make it then, I will be at The Reading Rabbit Bookshop on April 11, 1-3pm.

• I am getting ready to start planning my speaking calendar for the Fall of 2026! Yay! If you would like me to come speak at your women’s event or mom group, I’d love to! You can fill out the form on my website, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

• I am still writing my new book, the third story in the A Work in Progress Series. Prayers appreciated!

• Be on the lookout for podcast episodes to drop soon. You can see those updates on Instagram. My handle is @kelli.a.galyean.

Thanks for stopping by, have a fabulous Spring Break!

Kelli